Organize The GarageOrganize The Garage In One Day...Enjoy The Benefits For Years To Come! Sounds good, doesn't it? Imagine...leaving your garage door open just so the neighbors will see! Yes, this can be you! For some of us this will be a big undertaking. But with a little planning, preparation and scheduling, you will organize the garage with relative ease. Then you can be the envy of the neighborhood!
Special Tip: Print out this page and make notes and use the questions as checklists while you organize the garage. First Things FirstWhat's in your garage? What's that? Did you say NOT THE CARS? Ouch. Well, we definitely need to make room for those! Number one priority, okay?I don't know what it is about garages or attics or basements, but they do tend to fill up. Where does all this stuff come from? If this sounds like your garage, let's start with a plan. First, take a few "Before Photos." Really! You will enjoy these over and over.
Gather Supplies And Schedule "Organize The Garage Day"Gather some garbage bags, boxes, labels and markers. Put them in a spot for "Organize The Garage Day."Schedule a date and recruit the family. Maybe not little people but those old enough to be "helpers." You may have noticed that I frequently encourage involving children in your organizing projects. Sometimes it may be "easier" to plan for them to be elsewhere but they need to learn how to manage their own spaces. Teaching them some organizing skills now will benefit them all their lives. AND you may receive residual rewards...can you picture a neat and organized teenager's room? :)
Let's Get StartedOkay, let's hit it! Time to organize the garage!Time to fill those bags and boxes. Start on the left side as you are facing your garage and work around it clock-wise. Go through EVERYTHING! Leave nothing untouched. You may not want to do this again any time soon so let's do it right this time ;) Separate items into: Donate (to your favorite charity) Garage Sale (when your garage is organized, you may want to have a sale) Give Away (to those who want/need) Someplace Else (does not belong in garage) Trash (broken, not useful) Keep In Garage (everything that belongs in the garage) *Try to sort everything outside so that you can sweep, etc. before reloading. Label bags and boxes as categories emerge.
Take A BreakAfter a couple of hours, take a break. Grab something to eat and drink and while you are doing this, think about what you have accomplished so far.What categories are emerging? Are you parting with some things? Have you labeled boxes and bags? and so on.
Back To ItRe-energized? Good! Now continue where you left off. You should have some momentum at this point so try to pick up the pace. I imagine you are looking forward to finishing. Don't get discouraged, this will be SO worth your time.Once you have completely gone through everything, it's time to take care of the boxes and bags. Throw away trash. Put donation boxes in car and send someone to deliver. Put items going elsewhere...well, somewhere else! Be sure these are labeled...something like "Someplace Else Box From Garage," just in case you don't get to it for a while. Sweep And Clean As Desired.
What's Going Back In The Garage?Okay, it's time to take a look at what is going to go back in the garage.First...the cars! Think about the value of your cars as opposed to the stuff you store in the garage. Does it really make sense to keep your cars out in the elements? Pull the cars in and evaluate all the space around them. If you still feel like things are too tight, you may still need to reduce what's going back in. Consider some of the following questions: Can you hang vertical storage cabinets? Use hooks for bikes, tools, sleds, lawn chairs and/or ladders? Do you have usable space in the rafters? Where can you hang long-handled tools? Can you set up shelving units? Is there a better place for trash cans and recycling bins? Do you need a sports equipment organizer? Would lockers be helpful? Do you need a workbench? How about containers? Your choices will be based on what you want to store, now that you know what you want kept in there. Types of storage will vary considerably from family to family depending on needs and preferences. You can add garage storage very economically. Vist your local Home Improvement Center and check out all the amazing options. Or if you prefer something more "high-end," try places like Hold Everything or your local Custom Storage and Organizing Shop.
Put Everything In It's PlaceOnce you have added your storage shelves, hooks, units, etc., it's time to use them!Put frequently used items in the more accessible spots such as toward the front of shelves and cabinets and down within reach. (Remember to keep dangerous items out of reach of children). Put kid-friendly items where they can reach them on their own. Keep like items together. Label all areas where it makes sense to do so. Everything all put back?
Well???Wow! How do you like it?Try your newly organized garage for a week or so and make adjustments as necessary. It's time to celebrate! This is a big accomplishment! Treat you and your family to some special time together. You deserve it! Just think of how much you will benefit from taking this time to organize the garage! And, remember to take that "After Photo" for the family photo album.
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